Schindler Resort

[Jade Waylin]

Schindler Resort was a beautiful place, nototrious for its prices. Westbrook had recently recieved a generous donation for the whole school to take a little vacation there. Apparently, the donor was anonymous.

Jade knew very well who that donor was.

Peyton had been talking all week about how she needed to get out of Portland. She always had trouble staying in one place for too long. Peyton was a traveler by heart. Her father, Hunter Schindler, was the owner of several resorts. Literally one for every season. This one, obviously the one for the winter time, Jade had never visited.

The plane ride was nice. They only had an hour left of flight. She had sat next to Jared, and behind her was Rani and Melanie. She hadn't seen Damien in a while. The last time she did, he was grumbling to himself. It was something about the snow.

Jared hummed to himself quietly beside her. "Listening to you music?" she asked quietly. He nodded and smiled, offering a headphone to her.

Jade took it. "Thanks. Wait...," she listened for a moment. "Is this The Hush Sound?" Jared smiled and nodded again. Jade grinned. She hadn't listened to them since before Westbrook. It was nice to hear them again.

She closed her eyes as she listened to the familiar music. Today was a good day for her, and there wasn't anything anywhere that could ruin it.

[Rani LeBel]

This vacation was going to be her savior this next week. This is what she really needed. A vacation from all of her stress. A vacation from Christian and Mikayla.

She sat back in the plane seat, trying to relax and close her eyes, but to no avail. Melanie poked her in the side. "Melanie, I'm trying to rest. Could you focus on something else right now?" Melanie only shushed her and pointed to the seats in front of them.

Jade and Jared sat there, their heads close to each other, whispering something. They were sharing headphones. Rani eyed Melanie suspiciously. "What do you think their doing?" she thought to her.

Melanie only shrugged in response. Neither of them could hear what the two were saying. Rani only hoped that they were going to kiss or something. Rani never got her way of course.

Jade turned around to raise an eyebrow. She put her elbows over the seat. "Why are you two spying on us?" she asked.

"We're not," Melanie answered plainly. Jade rolled her eyes now.

"I don't need to be a Sheer to know that that was a lie, Mel." She smirked. Jade sighed and turned back to talk to Jared again.

Rani knew that Jade would deny anything between them, but she really wanted to ask, just to get a reaction out of her. But she really didn't need to ask, because the next moment she saw Jared's hand meet hers between the seats.

[Ebony Schier]

"Isn't this exciting?" Makenna asked, shaking Ebony awake.
"What? Oh...yeah, sure, Kenna." Ebony responded absently, blinking her eyes open. She was glad to have her best friend there, coming on the trip with them, but sometimes she wished Makenna wasn't so...Makenna.
"I can't wait to get there!!" Makenna squealed, looking out the window.
"Shhh. Yeah, I know, neither can I." Ebony replied, pulling out a book from her bag. "Can I read? Or are you going to be loud?"
Makenna giggled then nodded."Go ahead. Sorry, I'm just so happy to see you and meet all of your college friends."
Ebony smiled at her friend, opening the book to the last page she had been on. "Yeah, I'm sure they'll love you. In one way or another." Ebony chuckled, looking down at her book.
"Eb!" Makenna exclaimed, laughing with her.
Ah, how I missed her... Ebony thought, settling into her seat more, then began to read. More thoughts intrudded her mind, though, so she shut the book and leaned her head back, shutting her eyes lightly. She listened she the chatter of the other students, then her thoguhts came to Cameron.
Cam? How's it going?she sent.
I'm fine, no need to worry. How is it with Makenna?he replied, then Ebony caught a hint of a laugh across the thought.
Oh you know...she's Makenna.she replied and they both shared a laugh.
Such happy times, and hopefully, it would stay that way.

[Jade Waylin]

The plane landed soon, Jade successfully keeping herself content the whole way. That seat next to Jared was so comfortable, she probably would have fallen asleep, had it been possible. Instead she just lay her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. He didn't seem to mind at all.

When they walked off of the plane, it was much chillier than she had expected. Of course Jade hadn't forgotten a coat, but she hadn't exactly worn a thick one. She shivered noticeably in the blustery weather.

Peyton came up behind her. "Having fun yet?" she asked. Jade rolled her eyes and wrapped her arms around herself. Jared moved closer to her.

"You're cold, Jade?"

"I'm f-fine." He frowned and put an arm around her shoulders, Peyton eying him suspiciously. She always thought that he was going to hurt her or something. Jared seemed to think the same thing sometimes.

"Why are you always so warm, Jared?" she asked him curiously. Jade was already starting to feel better. He shrugged in response.

"I don't know. I've never really noticed that much." Jade didn't think much of it either.

"You be careful with her, Jared," Peyton spoke up. "Remember what I told you."

"Don't think I'm not trying," he retaliated.

"Whether you try or not, if anything happens to her--"

"Nothing will happen to me. At least nothing that will be at his fault." Jared frowned at her statement, but didn't say anything. Peyton silenced too.

Jade leaned her head against his shoulder again, a gesture to tell him that she was okay. She often wondered if he actually believed her when she told him that. Jade hoped for his sake that he did.

[Jared Lusner]

Jared's heart raced when she stood close to him. Jade didn't say anything more until they had reached to resort. He certainly felt that Peyton may have been right when she said to be careful. Jared knew how fragile Jade was, and he knew how unstable he was. It bothered him, but today he tried not to think much about it.

As they walked through the doors of the lobby, Jade spoke up. "You don't really think that you'd hurt me, do you?" She looked up at him with her pretty green eyes, not even a little bit of sadness in them. Only curiosity. As he liked them to be.

Jared sighed, hesitant to answer. "To tell you the truth, I don't know. My Swaying is passed out of control, and I really don't know what will happen next. I swear on my life that I'd never do it on purpose, Jade; you know that, right?" She nodded.

"I don't think you would," Jade answered plainly. "I don't think you have it in you to harm someone else. You're too nice." He smiled a little.

"I appreciate your faith," he replied, laughing some. "Sometimes, I don't even know that I'm Swaying though. I'm just so angry that I can't think clearly." Jared paused, thinking back. "It was why I was mad at you at the Coven Cove. After it wore off, I felt awful."

For a few moments she did answer. Jared glanced around, seeing Mr. Roswell and Ms. Gallagher attempt to keep the students orderly, a lost cause in itself.

"So you really think that the Swaying is the cause of your problem?" she spoke quietly.

Jared shrugged. "What else could it be? It's not like I have any other life-altering problems to speak of. Do you have a different idea?" Jade shook her head.

"I just wish that it was something that we could stop. I don't want you to be hurting yourself forever." Jared silently decided not to bring up the fact that he thought it might kill him. When he was lying in that bed unconscious, he certainly felt as if he was going to die right at that moment.

"I've lived with my Swaying for 115 years. I've just learned to leave it be." Jared couldn't believe that he'd been a vampire that long. His overall age was 136. He smirked, realizing that he was nearly 30 years older than Jade.

"That's a long time to be a vampire," she murmured. "I think I've only been like this for 92."

"God, I feel so old. You're a lot younger than me." Jade laughed at that, grinning widely.

"I think we're both looking pretty good for our age. I'd call that an accomplishment." He smirked. Today was going pretty well. Jared liked it when he could just talk with Jade like a normal person. It made him happy to have lived as long as he had.

[Makenna Van Allen]

Makenna smiled, walking into the resort with Ebony and Cameron. She walked ahead of them, watching the humans pass, her eyes wide with hunger. She shook her head, brightening her smile. She followed the others, trying to stay close to Ebony and Cameron.
"So I'll be rooming with you, right, Eb?" she asked, slowing to catch up to them.
"Uhh," Ebony answered, glancing at Cam. She bit her lip. "Kenna, I know you just came back...but..I really wanted to room with Cam. I missed that chance,um, earlier. Is that okay?"
Makenna's face fell, and she blew her bangs out of her eyes. "Yeah, I guess I'll deal." she replied,"You two have fun," she added, walking ahead of them a bit.
Sorry, Ebony said to her, mentally.
It's fine. Enjoy your vacation, alright? Love ya', babe. Makenna replied. She winked at them, hiding her jealousy at Cam, and walked ahead of them again. She had wanted to share stories with Ebony. She hadn't seen her for at least twenty years or so. Makenna sighed, watching the humans pass again.

[Melanie Lusner]

Melanie chatted happily with Rani, noticing out of the corner of her eye that so were Jade and Jared. She would go out of her way to get them together. It was her New Year's Resolution, considering it was getting around that time soon. Why not start now?

The students seemed very lively and happier than usual. It was probably on account that everyone was allowed to choose their own roommates. She knew that she and Rani were together, and Peyton and Jade were rooming. Jared was ecstatic when he had found out that he wouldn't have to be near Johnathan for this vacation. Damien roomed with him instead.

"So do you think we'll ever get them together?" Rani asked suddenly. Melanie only shrugged.

"Some day. I don't think they can both hold out forever."

"Who do you think will crack first?" Melanie did even need to think that over.

"Jared, no contest. He doesn't do well with misery."

Rani raised an eyebrow. "Really? I thought that Jade might. She doesn't seem like she can hold herself together."

"Jared is a push-over. Plus, he gives in to anything easily. He might have the will power of a turtle, but in the end he's going to have to realize that it will take forever to get to that end of the forest." Rani laughed.

"All right. I guess we'll bet on it then. Thirty?"

"Deal." This was an easy win. Rani didn't know Jared like she did. Soon she'd be thirty dollars richer. At least she hoped soon.